Large-Scale Internetwork Functional Connectivity Mediates the Relationship between Serum Triglyceride and Working...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Serum lipid profiles are known to affect cognition, brain structure, and function in older adults and clinical populations.
• The relationship between lipids, brain connectivity, and cognition in young, healthy adults remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between serum lipid levels, functional brain network connectivity, and working memory in healthy young adults.
• To explore potential mediation effects of functional connectivity on the relationship between lipids and working memory.

Main Methods:

• 157 healthy young adults underwent resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) for functional connectivity analysis.
• Serum lipid profiles were measured, and working memory was assessed using a 3-back task.
• Linear regression, correlation, and mediation analyses were employed to examine relationships.

Main Results:

• Higher serum triglyceride (TG) levels correlated with altered connectivity in multiple large-scale brain networks, including frontoparietal, attention, sensorimotor, visual, and default mode networks.
• Increased connectivity between the salience network (SN) and ventral sensorimotor network (vSMN) was associated with lower working memory accuracy (3-back task).
• SN-vSMN connectivity mediated the relationship between serum TG levels and working memory performance.

Conclusions:

• Serum lipid profiles, particularly triglyceride levels, are associated with functional brain network organization in young adulthood.
• Altered functional connectivity, specifically within the SN-vSMN, may link higher triglyceride levels to impaired working memory.
• Findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for cognitive enhancement through lipid management in young adults.